Yeoksam Station Dentist: Deep Decay in a Dental Student Completed with Resin Without Root Canal Treatment

I was told the cavity was so deep

that root canal treatment might be necessary.

The patient I’m introducing today is a 3rd-year preclinical dental student.

At another clinic, a panoramic X-ray was taken, and they said there was decay in the spaces between the front teeth and the molars.

“They said this clinic is famous for conservative treatment that preserves teeth, so I came here.”

It felt especially meaningful to be recognized by a junior like that, haha.

👉 We planned to save the tooth if possible and make root canal treatment the last resort.

Our staff gathers like this every morning

to do the day’s patient briefing :)

It looked fine on the outside, but inside it was quite deep.. Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

촬영 : 251017

After the examination, we found deep decay in the hidden area between the left canine and the molar behind it.

촬영 : 251017

This area is hard to see from the outside, but food gets trapped there often and the toothbrush doesn’t reach it well, so decay can easily develop.

When decay occurs between teeth, the nerve is close by, so if it gets even a little deeper, there’s a high chance it can lead to root canal treatment...

Fortunately, the patient had no symptoms. Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

This meant the decay had not yet reached the nerve, so root canal treatment was not necessary. It looked deep, but we decided on a plan that preserved the tooth as much as possible.

Save the nerve and keep the tooth! Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

This treatment had a clear goal.

To avoid root canal treatment

by removing only the decay accurately.

촬영 : 251017

First, we used the precision diagnostic device Qray to check the depth and boundary of the decay.

Fortunately, it wasn’t deep, so we judged that it could be treated with resin.

So we made the following plan.

After removing only the necessary area with minimal reduction, we planned to apply adhesive to the tooth surface in multiple steps for a strong bond, then build up thin layers of light-cured resin.

Finally, we planned to do polishing so the color and texture would match the surrounding teeth.

We set up the treatment to preserve the tooth as much as possible, haha.

Check the boundary with Qray and remove only what’s needed~ Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

We started removing the decay without anesthesia.

촬영 : 251101

To remove only the decay, we checked the fluorescence response with the diagnostic device Qray and removed it precisely while looking through magnification.

Qray is a diagnostic device that helps make accurate diagnoses by shining blue visible light into the mouth, causing decay to appear red.

If you remove decay based only on intuition, healthy tissue can also be removed, so we kept checking with Qray and proceeded carefully.

촬영 : 251101

To remove as little healthy tissue as possible^^ Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

After all the decay was removed, we secured the bond firmly and layered light-cured resin one layer at a time.

This process is called “layering.”

It’s much more natural and durable than filling everything in at once in a hurry.

촬영 : 251101

The patient, who is a dental student, quietly watched the process during treatment and smiled, saying, “You’re really meticulous. We didn’t learn to look this closely in school.”

That made me really happy😌

Without root canal treatment and without pain Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

We were able to finish without root canal treatment.

촬영 : 251101

One advantage of resin is that even without anesthesia, you can return to daily life right away without sensitivity or pain😊

Before treatment, they thought root canal treatment would definitely be necessary, but they thanked us for coming and said they were glad they did.

At the end, they even took a photo in the treatment room, possibly to use as a reference while studying. (Very satisfying...✌️)

It was also a very rewarding case for me because I was able to save a junior’s precious tooth.

촬영 : 251017 / 251101

Even after the patient left, I kept thinking about it for a long time.

There is nothing more rewarding than having someone on the same path understand and recognize my treatment philosophy, more than any compliment could be, haha.

I believe a dentist’s skill is proven not only by the visible treatment result, but by how much of the tooth is preserved.

The visible result can

be checked by anyone,

but the process inside

can only be known by the person who received the treatment. Yeoksam Station Dental Clinic

That’s why I think conservative treatment is ultimately connected to how conscientiously the care is provided.

This canine treatment became a new learning experience for the patient, and for me, it was a time that reaffirmed my long-held belief and original mindset.

I aim to touch teeth as little as possible.

Please remember that this is ultimately the surest way to use your teeth for a long time.

I hope my sincerity was conveyed well🙏🏻

This has been Dr. So Hyun-su of Jaejuljoheun Dental Clinic. Thank you.

👇🏻 Quick reservation 👇🏻

👇 Articles worth reading together! 👇

• Depending on the individual, symptoms such as sensitivity, pulp necrosis, and discoloration may appear temporarily, and in rare cases additional treatment may be required.

Treatment period: 251017 - 251101